Authoritarian personality

• The authoritarian personality is a personality type that is characterized by a strong sense of internalized authority:

  • highly obedient to those in authority
  • submissive to people of a higher status
  • dismissive to those deemed inferior
• Which psychologist/year proposed the authoritarian personality?

  Adorno et al , 1950
• To investigate the theory of authoritarian personality, Adorno et al created a survey called the F scale, which was used to measure the authoritarian personality and prejuduced beliefs. He studied 2000 middle class white americans.
• Conclusion (Adorno et al):

  Those who scored more highly on the F- scale are more likely to have authoritarian personalities.

  People with authoritarian personalities:

  • aware of their own social status
  • extreme respect and flattery to those of higher status
  • patronised those of lower status
  • driven by stereotypes and prejudice- (strong positive correlation)
• Adolph Eichman is an example of an authoritarian personality:

  • He was obedient since childhood
  • He was obedient 100% of the time
  • He followed all orders in the armed forces, making him an easy target for Hitler to pursue his destructive authority
• The authoritarian personality is argued to form in early childhood as a result of a strict, disciplinarian parenting style.

  For example, parents' impossibly high standards and expectations create hostility, fear and hatred within a child. Children obey due to fear of punishment from parents. Feelings of anger and hatred are often displaced onto others.

  A) upbringing

  B) punishment

  C) fear

  D) hatred

  E) respectful